PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER HJI.Y, 1958 PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION

'TSgjjjl*-."" Take 'Em Fishing By H. S. VAN BROOKLYN, Woonsocket (R. I.J Call

If you know a lad who's "out of line" an' headin' "down the grade," And you think 'twould help if he'd forget the errors he had made, Lend him a rod and line and let him see how flies are made— An' take him fishin'. If you have a grouchy neighbor who seems spoilin' for a fight, And you think perhaps its ulcers, or that he can't sleep at night, And you'd like to change his attitude to one that's gay an' bright— Take him fishin'. If the boss is on the warpath and works you like a slave, And you fear his disposition will drive him to his grave, Remind him how he used to be before he learned to shave— Take him fishin'. If your wife is in a frenzy with her hundred daily chores, With her sweepin', cookin', moppin' and washin' walls and floors, Convince her she'll feel better with a few hours out- of-doors— Take her fishin' And if you're feelin' down and out and tired enough to drop, And cash is short and bills pile up as though they'd never stop, Quit frettin', get your fishin' gear, close up the darned old shop— An' YOU go fishin'. PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION PENNSYLVANIA DIRECTORY EXECUTIVE OFFICE ANGLER WILLIAM VOIGT, JR. Executive Director DR. ALBERT S. HAZZARD Asst. Director Published Monthly by the H. R. STACKHOUSE Administrative Secretory PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION

JOSEPH J. MICCO COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Comptroller George M. Leader, Governor PAUL J. SAUER Assistant Comptroller • • Pennsylvania Fish Commission

DIVISIONS JOHN W. GRENOBLE, President Carlisle ALBERT R. HINKLE, Vice Pres Clearfield R. STANLEY SMITH Waynesburg Aquatic Biology WALLACE DEAN Meadville JOSEPH M. CRITCHFIELD Confluence CORDON TREMBLEV Chief GERARD ADAMS Hawloy MAYNARD BOGART Danville

Fish Culture DEWEY SORENSON Superintendent

Engineering ftlOMAS F. O'HARA Chief Engineer JULY, 1958 VOL. 27, NO. 7 Real [slate CYRIL G. REGAN Chief

law Enforcement WILLIAM W. BRITTON chief J. ALLEN BARRETT, Editor JOHNNY NICKLAS, Photographer Conservation Educatlon-Pub/ic Relations C. ROBERT GLOVER Chief • CONTENTS REGIONAL OFFICES Northwest 2 YOU'VE GOT TO SPECIALIZE—Bill Walsh Conneautvllle Phone 3033 4 PENNSYLVANIA WRITERS IN FLORIDA '• CARLYLE SHELDON ... .Warden Supervisor 5 LOOK BEFORE BUYING A "USED" BOAT VACANT Fishery Manager 6 A LAKE IS REBORN—Thad Bukowski Southwest R. D. 2 9 SMOOTH WATER DRY FLIES—L James Bashline Somerset Phone 6913 11 THEY CALL IT "RESEARCH"—Robert R. Bowers WINTER C JONES Warden Supervisor 13 SUSQUEHANNA RIVER LAKES—Robert G. Miller °AN HEYL Fishery Manager 16 FISHING WITH THE BUBBLE—Ray Ovington

Northeast 18 LET'S GO FISHING, GIRLS—Mrs. Sharon Orman 546 Main Street Honesdale 20 SUICIDE POND—N. R. Casillo Phone 1485 RALPH O. SINGER Warden Supervisor 24 FILLET THAT BASS—Ned Smith BUDDY L. JACOB Fishery Manager THE COVER: Bass Fishing on Conneaut Lake Photo by Johnny Nicklas Southeast Box 145 COVER THREE: NOTES FROM THE STREAMS Hellam Phone York 47-6688 BACK COVER: North Branch, Susquehanna River (near Wapwallopen) J°HN S. OGDEN Warden Supervisor "OBERT BIELO Fishery Manager

"orth Central 644 W. Main Street Lock Haven The PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, South Office Building, Harrisburg, Pa. Subscription: $1.00 per year, 10 cents per single copy. Phone 6497 Send check or money order payable to Pennsylvania Pish Commission. DO NOT SEND LfSTER c. OGDEN Warden Supervisor STAMPS. Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. Change of address should reach D us promptly. Furnish both old and new addresses. Entered as Second Class matter at the «NIEL REINHOLD Fishery Manager Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1873. s Neither Publisher nor Editor will assume responsibility lor unsolicited manuscripts or °uth Centra/ Illustrations while In their possession or In transit. Permission to reprint will be given 201 Ridge Road provided we receive marked copies and credit Is given material or Illustrations. Com­ Huntingdon munications pertaining to manuscripts, material or illustrations should be addressed to the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, Harrisburg, Pa. Phone Mitchell 3-1321 "AROLD CORBIN Warden Supervisor NOTICE: Subscriptions received and processed after the 10th of each month will begin with the CURTIS SIMES Fishery Manager second month following. For Muskies In Presque Isle Bay J. You^ve Got To Specialize!

By BILL WALSH

"Who does this W. T. Patterson think he is?" fish on a big copper spoon he fashioned from a chunk howls Al Rossi, waving a recent issue of PENNSYL­ of raw material his uncle, Jake Mainzer (who taught VANIA ANGLER under my nose. him to fish for muskies 25 years ago), rescued from "Look, right here he says that Presque Isle Bay is a junk heap. The treble hook that trails this silver- one body of water that receives too little attention dollar size wobbler is draped with black and white from the musky fishermen. The few muskies that are hair—the black from a squirrel tail and the white caught each year are usually taken incidental to fishing for other species of game fishes." "Isn't that right?" we ask him. (RIGHT) Rossi "hangs" a "Heck no—ain't I living proof that you've got to 46 inch, 31 pound muskie specialize to take muskies and fish only for them? taken on a copper spoon Leave us bloody this Patterson's literary nose with the —black and white buck- truth on muskie fishing up here." tail combination. Well, with Rossi holding my arm behind my back and twisting all the way—what else can I do? Truth is that in recent years—with musky specialists like (Below) Al leading the way to prove the big fellows are there A young friend awed by for the taking—the numbers of out-and-out dyed-in- a 47' _> inch, 28 pound the-wool muskie anglers are on the increase. Fact is specimen taken on a sur­ you will find them trolling Presque Isle Bay in face plug. Where were they caught? Presque Isle everything from prams to 40-foot yachts—quarry, Bay, of course. muskies. During September and October of for ex ample, Rossi himself caught and ex­ hausted 23 of the big fish. He kept eight of these—all in the 40-inch or over category, the heaviest being a 46-incher that tipped the scales at 31 pounds. Nothing to make the Lake- of-the Woods folks of Wisconsin sit up and whistle—but plenty of musky for Pennsylvania, and plenty plentiful, too, by any standard. Most were taken casting, throwing big, glistening hardware into and around the edge of the weed beds that rim Presque Isle—waiting for the big strike or the impressive follow-up that tells him a muskie is at home. Then it is a matter of concentrating on that spot until he gets tired and moves on to another—or gets the fish. Rossi makes some of his own lures and took a good number of this year's

2 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE)1 from a polar bear. MAP OF Presque Isle Bay and environs. ". . . no special He also takes them on big plugs—the big jointed place for muskies. ... in the weed beds or in 30 feet of water out in the middle." However, shore line points in­ pikie being a special favorite and a big "mouse" type dicated with "X" have been most productive in recent years. in pure white also having proved a steady producer over the years. of the year, he would undoubtedly pick up some To prove that this muskie fishing is not just a passing more—but, as he says, he would also be without fancy with Al and his prototypes who haunt Presque home, wife, and job—so he concentrates on the two Isle waters, Al has brought home over 170 muskies best months of the year. |n his 25 years of fishing for them. Here is some of his personal advice to those who Unlike other fishermen who have kept records of would catch the "tiger of the waters"—consistently. the numbers they've caught, Rossi has only counted "Never give a musky an even break. Not that you the ones he's considered big enough to bring home. should use broom-handles and clotheslines on them, As a youngster, he undoubtedly kept some he'd quickly it's just that you've got to keep your tackle up to toss away today—to grow up—but for many years a snuff or a hooked muskie will turn into just another musky has had to be 40 inches or over to earn the lost musky. That is one reason the average bass trip up the street and eventually into the frying pan plugger who attracts an occasional musky to his lure °r oven. For the Rossi family eats every fish and finds loses the fish more often than not. the flesh of the musky firm and sweet. "I use a safety wire attached to each lure leader. Over the years Rossi has earned his reputation as This is wound around the main leader and is insurance 'Musky King" of Erie by tallying up his score during against a musky's rolling on the snap. Lost several September and October each year. If he fished the rest fish this way—as well as the plugs.

'ULY—1958 3 "Had a fellow accuse me of being a poor sport one time (not giving the fish a chance to get away). But when I found a musky that tore away from someone else in the same manner—lying dead at the edge of the bay, the large spoon still in his mouth—I shut him up in a hurry. More sportsmanlike to get the fish in the boat and release him if he is too small, than to have him get away with hardware in his jaw." Presque Isle Bay—where Rossi takes most of his big ones—is loaded with panfish, especially perch, thus they have plenty to eat. Rossi has cut big walleyes out of musky stomachs, too. And not too long ago, while putting up a duck blind, four muskies in the yard- long bracket were seen fighting over a duck one of them had waylaid. When the first hint of frost gets into the air, Rossi turns from casting to trolling. When he does cast, however, he begins his retrieve almost before the lure hits the water—and he brings it in as fast as he can turn the reel. Muskies like this fast action. There is no special place in the bay for the muskies, he claims. He's taken them in the weed beds and in 30 feet of water out in the middle of the big body THE ARROW points to a wired safety catch hook­ of water. up engineered by AI Rossi to prevent losing musky, lure, and all when and if the heavy-jawed fish rolls In conclusion, he issues a friendly invitation to Mr. up the line and exerts pressure on the lure's catch. Patterson to come on up to Erie and meet an entire Ordinary copper wire does the trick. Rossi figures fraternity of fisherfolk who regularly catch muskies ifs more humane to boat the fish (possibly for re­ lease) than to let it die a lingering death with a in our bay—because that's what they're after. half-pound of hardware in its jaw.

Pennsylvania Writers in Florida

Outdoor writers from across the nation convened for the dent of POWA; Seth Myers, outdoor columnist, Sharon annual OWAA conference and meeting at Key Colony, Herald and secretary of OWAA; Brooke Focht, outdoor Florida in early June. Pictured above is most of the Penn­ columnist, Reading Eagle; Robert Reed, Publicity Assistant, sylvania "delegation" who with wives and families were out­ Division of Administration, Pennsylvania Game Commission; numbered only by Florida and Ohio groups. Left to right: Dave Fisher, publisher, Beagle Journal, Towanda; C. Paul Ned Smith, wildlife artist, Millersburg; Rollin Heffelfinger, Blair, outdoor commentator, WPIC, Sharon; and Francis Chief, Division of Administration, Pennsylvania Game Com­ Kemp, outdoor" columnist, Huntingdon-Mt. Union Daily News. mission; C. Robert Glover, Chief, Division of Conservation Present also but gone fishin' when this picture was taken: Education, Pennsylvania Fish Commission; Eldy Johnston, Roger Latham, outdoor columnist, Pittsburgh Press; Bill outdoor columnist, McKeesport Daily News; A. B. "Doc" Walsh, outdoor columnist, Erie Times and Charles Vaughan, Eadie, outdoor commentator, WACB, Kittanning and presi­ outdoor columnist, Philadelphia Inquirer.

4 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLEX Look Before Buying A "Used" Boat

The first boat many fishermen add to their angling arsenal, as well as the craft acquired by other water sports' devotees, is of the "used" variety. And like the purchase of a used car, there are cer­ tain salient features that should measure up before the Purchase is made. Following therefore is a checklist for the newcomer to boating in buying a second-hand boat: 1. Run the boat to see if it handles satisfactorily. 2. Have the boat taken out of the water and check the bottom. See that planking abutts the transom and stem squarely and solidly. Sight along the keel for "hooks" (large concave indentations in the bottom caused by improper distribution of weight during stor­ age.) "Hooks" will cause the boat to perform im­ properly. Be suspicious of cracks which could develop into troublesome leaks. Seams and planks should be so joined as to remain watertight. 3. Check for nail sickness (the symptoms of which are spots of rust on the surface of the paint over a nail, or, in some cases, rust streaking down the side °f the hull from a nailhole). If the condition looks bad, chances are you're in for a complete refastening job. 4. Look inside the hull. See that frames and ribs maintenance, so inspect a badly painted craft thor­ are sound and uncracked. A badly cracked frame will oughly. If you purchase a poorly painted boat, re- cause the planks to work and the boat to leak. finish it to get best performance. 5. Since most outboard boats are well ventilated, Aluminum and glass boats, by nature of the mate­ the chances of finding dry rot in an outboard hull are rial used in their construction, are durable. Be sure relatively slight. However, inspect a boat thoroughly seams in an aluminum boat are correctly joined and for rot if the boat has been completely covered will not leak. Glass boats should be free of bad during a prolonged storage period. If the boat has cracks. enclosed spaces, such as cabins, lockers and the like, You won't have to bother about these things if you look for dry rot. Examine under floor boards, decks, purchase a used boat from a reputable dealer. etc If the wood you're inspecting is soft, and crumbly How about price? There is, of course, no method and will tear loose at the touch of a thumbnail or of determining what the price of a used boat should screwdriver, it's affected by dry rot. Blistered paint be that would be suitable for all parts of the country. 'nay indicate the condition but is not necessarily a The best way to determine the fair price of a used cause. boat is to shop. Find what you want and then look 6. A bad paint job, although it will affect a boat's for boats similar to it. Several comparisons should Performance, is not dangerous in itself. However, it give you a good idea of the proper price for the boat ttay indicate the previous owner's attitude toward you're interested in.

JULY—1958 5 A PORTION of Cascade Park Lake in New Castle drained showing its silt load—almost level with the dam breast— just before the Marines moved in.

A LAKE IS ICIICOItV

By THAD BUKOWSKI

Guts, optimism and persistence can do a lot. In my When I was a youngster, many happy days were town these three attributes just restored a lake to good spent there with a tolerant fishing father who taught fishing. Oh, it took more man a few people to do it. me much about the rewarding pleasures to be found in Among them were a determined senior citizen, an nature. From the waters off its hemlock-lined south energetic Congressman, a company of United States shore came my first chill at the eerie cry of a loon. Marines' engineers, the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, As with many lakes the country over, however, the a local sports editor and the contributions and efforts of tragedy of siltation struck. Poor conservation practices, numerous other local citizens, all at the right time. But including unwise farming, encroachment upon and dis- it was done. Perhaps there is a lake like this one was, near your THE MARINES moved in and as this first day scene of home—a silted body of water which through indiffer­ action indicates went right to work. ence or carelessness or what have you during farming or industrial or residential development of its water­ shed, has accumulated such an amount of silt and rubbish that it has ceased to provide fishing or any other form of recreation. Such was the Cascade Park Lake, originally a beau­ tiful body of water nestled in a deep valley community park on the southern edge of New Castle, Pennsyl­ vania. For many years, it was an excellent locale for fishing pleasure. In the spring suckers abounded and were caught in great numbers along its upper channel. In the summer, evening fishermen could almost be assured of taking a largemouth or two. Youngsters enjoyed it for bullheads, bluegill and perch.

PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER turbance otherwise of creek banks permitted the Big Run for some miles above to eventually deposit over 40,000 cubic yards of silt into the lake proper. The lake died. Everyone despaired. Silently all would view it, shake their heads and mutter or mumble some nearly in­ coherent words and move away, remembering the good days. It's certain that few ever thought it could again become a fishing area. Even the sportsmen's °rganizations despaired. Then slowly the wheels began turning. The first sPark was generated in the mind of Jack Gerson, a jeweler and senior citizen of the community. First he asked himself—"Why couldn't Cascade be restored?" He then posed the question to the Optimists Club and certainly could not have tagged it to a more appropriate organization. The Optimists took on the reclamation of the lake as their project. At first it looked as if even they had stretched a Point. Over 40,000 cubic yards of dirt had to be re­ moved, and at eight cubic yards to the truckload, that •fieant about 5,000 loads—a mean and expensive job that required other major equipment. THE MAN with the idea—Jack Gerson on the right But the ball kept rolling—Gerson persisted and and Wayne Champ, the first to benefit therefrom, on Harry Mack, president of the Optimists Club, co­ the left, with a foot-long yellow perch. ordinated efforts, then made a public appeal for con­ tributions for the project. Ed Fritz, sports editor of Meanwhile, attention was directed to just beyond the New Castle News, lent his efforts and columns. New Castle where a company of U. S. Marine engineers was stationed with a sizeable amount of earth moving equipment and apparently time on their hands. And Congressman Frank Clark was drawn into the effort. He moved quickly and effectively for shortly thereafter, the nearby Marines received orders to move into a new theater. This took place early in the year. By late March after as messy and trying a job as those Marine en­ gineers will ever likely be called upon again to do, the lake was cleared of its accumulation of silt to an aver­ age depth of approximately six feet. Its maximum depth again is about twelve feet. But the community did not stand idly by while the Marines wrestled with the muck. The money that was collected earlier helped to defray some of the incidental expenses. It also paid for additional trucks to expedite the removal of the silt. Meanwhile, many New Castle gardens and flower pots were enriched. And some property owners got just about the most fertile fill they could ever hope for—just for hauling it away. The restored basin was then allowed to fill with water and on May 3, this year, the Fish Commission trucks rolled in and Cascade Park Lake was repopu- lated with due ceremony. Despite inclement weather among the notables on hand were: Congressman Frank HERMAN STEINBRINK, New Castle city councilman Clark; Mayor Edward DeCarbo; a contingent of the showing one of the consignment of crappies from atop the Fish Commission truck, just before the load is Marines; Herman Steinbrink, president of the Lawrence planted in Cascade Lake. County Council of Sportsmen; Gordon Trembley, of

'ULY-1958 i A plaque commemorating the effort was struck, then attention was turned to the fish and fishing. The initial stocking consisted of yellow perch and crappies of no men proportions. And immediately lines were wetted, including Mayor DeCarbo's. To youthful Wayne Champ went the honor and privilege of catching the first fish, a foot long yellow perch. And a slip of a boy whose name was lost in the melee caught the first crappie, also of the foot long variety. The mayor went Ashless. It was the act of the unnamed youth who caught the first crappie and returned it that seemed to set the tune of the entire undertaking. Good sportsmanship, coop­ eration and looking to the future. Beyond question those who took part in the restora­ tion of Cascade Park Lake felt a good sense of ac­ complishment on dedication day. They and the young­ sters, and the youngsters to come may look forward to a great amount of pleasure. There are two little shavers in our home. One is six and the other is four years old. I'll be taking them out THREE OF the prime movers of the Cascade Park Lake to Cascade and maybe they too will hear their first project before the dedicatory plaque. Left to right—Harry loon. It would be fitting were it the progeny of the one Mack, president of the New Castle Optomisis Club, Congress­ I heard when I was their age. Certainly they will catch man Frank Clark and Jack Gerson. some fish. Of course I'll show them where daddy the Pennsylvania Fish Commission; Harry Mack, presi­ caught a fish here and a fish there when he was a boy. dent of the Optimists Club; Jack Gerson and several And all the time I'll be thanking all those who brought other city officials; and hundreds of youngsters, dads, this lake back to life. And most of all, I'll thank Jack and grandpas. Gerson who started it all.

Fishing Psychology

What makes a fish bite is the same thing that makes The best lure to use is the one a fish will bite, a man go fishing—a simple urge to do something, subject to change without notice. completely beyond definition. There are no piscatorial When the fish are biting, make the most of it and psychiatrists to tell us what goes on in a fish's brain; don't ask questions. there is no way of analyzing fishing patterns with any When they fail to bite, you might as well pack up great deal of success; there is no way of depending and go home—the most elaborate lure in your box upon past experience. won't faze them. But, remember this—whether the fish bite or It all boils down to this: whether they don't, fishing will always remain one of The best time to catch fish is some other time. the grandest pastimes known to man. So let's quit read­ You have a choice as to the best days—either ing about it, and do something about it. Let's fish! yesterday or tomorrow. Florida Wildlife

8 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE*1 Smooth Water Dry Flies By L. JAMES BASHLINE

For many years the most important single item nizes it at once as not being the genuine article. I am used in the construction of a dry fly has been the quite sure that a trout is capable of ejecting a fly hackle. This is rightly so, because it is the material rather rapidly if it does not feel right to him. which keeps the fly above water. The color of the I believe this must be so, otherwise we would not hackle also determines the general overall color of the hook so many trout merely by the smallest slip of skin entire fly. In fact many of our most successful flies on their lips. It appears that they have already begun are made up of nothing but hackle. to eject the fly at the instant we have struck. This may American dry fly fishermen have asked for, and or may not be so. At any rate, allow me to relate an received, flies which have been tied with very stiff incident that seems to uphold the theory. hackle. Fly tyers are always in search of narrow stiff A companion and I were fishing the Oswayo River fibered hackle. They know that flies tied with stiff on a beautiful summer evening. There was a good fall hackle command the best prices. Why is this? The of red quill spinners and we were having very good main reason is that hackle which is strong fibered will luck using our local imitation of this insect. We had float a fly with a minimum of bulkiness. And that, of each caught and released seven or eight trout and I course is the basic demand of a dry fly—it must float! killed one brown of about 14" and my partner had I will admit that there is no prettier sight than a high kept two of nearly that size. We were having a very riding dry fly bouncing along on broken water. A fly enjoyable time of it when we came upon a long quiet that floats perfectly cast after cast is a delight to fish pool which had barely a perceptible current. It was with and if the pattern is right will take its fair share alive with the red quill spinners and it was easy to of trout on the typical eastern stream. By typical, I see that several large trout were working on them.

HOW THE soft hackled dry fly more closely resembles the natural fly than does the stiff hackled type, when used on smooth surfaced water.

mean a stream that is fairly fast in velocity and with Right at the tail of the pool the light was such that it most of its surface area marked with at least some enabled us to see a half dozen really large trout tipples. When we come to the long still pools and picking off the helpless flies as they floated slowly by. ponds however, our standard stiff hackled dry fly does Because we had been doing so well that evening, we lot always do the job it should. were both confident that we would have no trouble In swift, or rapid moving water, the trout does not whatever in catching a couple of these eighteen inchers. have much time to decide whether or not he should Probably because they were feeding so steadily, they take a dry fly. When he does decide to take it, he didn't seem to mind our rather close approach. We generally does it with a rush and makes a considerable were no more than twenty feet away from them when splash often times hooking himself. In still water, he my friend false casted six or seven times and dropped has all the time in the world to look over your offering his fly a few feet above the largest of the group. I and should he decide to take it, does so with a slow watched as his fly floated beautifully along with no positive manner making little surface disturbance. drag whatever. I held my breath as the fly neared the Trout in water of this type seldom hook themselves trout's nose. He was lying no more than ten inches and the angler must strike quite quickly to set the under the surface and I could see every spot on him hook. In the case of a stiff hackled fly, the trout, upon as he rose slowly to meet the fly. Then I witnessed closing his mouth on such a creature probably recog­ something which I had often suspected but had never

T JULY—1958 <> quite believed. I actually saw that fish open his mouth time of the strike? I am quite sure that the answer is and suck in the fly with practically no surface dis­ too stiff a hackle. The natural insect is a soft and turbance and at the same instant saw the flash of my delicate thing probably feeling somewhat like a marsh- companions rod as he struck. Yet, and I am sure of mallow to the trout. When we proceed to offer him this, the fly was not in the trout's mouth when the rod our fine stiff hackled dry flies, they probably feel like tip raised. What took place was this (I think). The a mouthful of briars. trout took the fly and then, sensing something was not This soft hackled idea is not a new one. The British quite right about it, instantly backed away leaving the have understood it for years, and with just cause. fly suspended in the water. It was my turn to try for Their smooth, glassy chalk streams demand that their one of these big fish and strangely enough the fish my flies be as natural looking as possible, and a high friend had missed was still feeding. As I made my riding dry fly does not give this illusion on water of cast, I thought that I would not allow myself to miss. that type. The soft hackled fly allows the fly's body I would strike instantly not giving the trout a chance to ride on or in the surface of the water more like its to back away from the fly. The smallest of the lot, a fish of about 16" began to rise for my fly and I struck natural counterpart, while the hackles themselves, quick all right,—so quick that the fly was snatched bending considerably where they meet the water, more away from him before he actually got to it. (This is closly resemble the insects legs. I am not recom­ quite easy to do when you can see the trout you are mending that you discard all of your stiff hackled trying for. It's a sort of "buck fever.") My next cast dry flies and convert to the soft flies. Far from it! rose a fine trout of at least eighteen inches and he Ninety-nine percent of the dry fly fishing found in the pulled the same trick that my friend's trout did. Now east will require the conventional stiff hackled fly. he had the fly and now he didn't! It really isn't im­ The soft hackled jobs are special purpose flies and portant, but we didn't succeed in catching any of those should be used as such. Fishing a fly constructed in fish, in spite of the fact that they came quite freely to this manner on most eastern water would drive a man our flies. to drink. It simply wouldn't float long enough to be Because those fish did come to our flies, it was worth it. Its real worth is proven in using it on those obvious that the pattern and the size of the fly were smooth, slick glides when the big browns are rising all right. Why then did they reject them right at the with deliberate insolence. Favorite Flies DF PEnns¥LVRmn HHGLEHS I^N^^H ^MIAV FLV IMITATION .. . MOTTLED TORKEV A GOOD FAST WATER WET FLV WORKS BEST WHEN USED AS TOP "DROPPER" WHEN USING THREE WET FLVS . . . IT'S MADE OF RUBBER MAV REDDISH FLV BODV MATERIAL. REDOISH BROUJN BROWN YELLOW THREAD 5 STIFF WIRE RIBBING- TIE IN TAIL4 WIND ON A RIBBING- RIBBING TO FORM SQUEEZE ON SEGMENTS TIE OFF (WITH BODV $TRIM HALF-HITCHES " TO SHAPE SIZE : * IO TO *W-

10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER They Call It Research

By ROBERT R. BOWERS

(Photos by the Author)

"The jaws of a snapping turtle are strong and its hard and clamped his pointed beak into the flesh as if beak is sharp," the textbook say, and don't you ever it were a dainty morsel of fishing worm. Had the doubt it. creature been larger, needless to say I would not have It is not my claim to fame that I am the only man been able to type this story. Typing, I'm told, is awk­ ever bitten by a snapping turtle. My bet is that I'll ward with only four fingers. be the last to forget it. The force of the strike startled me, even though I It all happened very innocently during a summer knew doggone well it was coming. After all, that was course on aquatic animal life. Carl Sullivan, my asso­ the purpose of our research, wasn't it? However, I ciate researcher, caught a baby snapper from the suspect one rarely becomes adjusted to such things muddy edge of a farm pond near the center of opera­ anymore than they do to needles and pins or hypo­ tions for our project. As we discussed the little critter's dermic needles, even for the sake of science. mean disposition, it occurred to me that just maybe all Two inches up the palm of my hand and completely this stuff we had read about snapping turtles was not to the tip of my index finger, the numbness crept, exactly authentic. "Pure exaggeration," was my conclu- gradually turning purple, then white. Rather delicate purple, I would say. Convinced the books were correct in their descrip­ tion of a snapping turtle's bite, I told Carl, "Take him off!" But pulling on the reptile only caused his stubborn jaws to tighten their grip—he wouldn't budge. His tenacity, or perhaps his appetite, was remarkable. Like a strong vise, he hung on as if to release him would have assured his certain death. For a moment, it occurred to me that either his deatii or mine would have to come soon. I felt like the fellow who tried to wrestle a wildcat out of a tree and fell to the ground amidst the cat's claws. "Shoot into us," he told his partner, "I'll take my chances." And that I, too, would have done gladly. "Does it really hurt?" Carl asked me in a very scientific sort of way. "Not a bit," I groaned, "Can't feel a thing." Fortunately, a snapper doesn't chew his food, but CARL SULLIVAN, fellow researcher, holds the baby snapper curiously, wondering whether "he mostly tears it to pieces. In my case, it seemed this really bites hard." turtle was trying hard to "squeeze it to death" with his powerful jaws. I thought about another snapper I had sion as I thought the matter out. These writings had seen snap a one-inch, green sapling in half in one bite, probably been carried over from one book to another and my gratitude for tangling with a 'mere baby' was without the authors actually knowing whether the unbounded. snapper could bite hard or not. There was only one Finally, consoled in the fact that the reptile was not way to find out, and "I drew the short straw." going to let go, voluntarily, I asked Carl to yank him "For the sake of science," Carl kept stressing to me loose, and that he did. With one hand on my wrist, the as my finger continued to flinch every time it was other on the turtle's hind leg, Carl jerked hard. It Placed nearer the mouth of the small but vicious look- would have been more pleasant to have worn the lng reptile. The snapping and hissing didn't help my thing as an ornament for the rest of my life. His beak nerves a bit. I hesitated, but the turtle didn't. lost none of its grip. Fortunately, however, the bone His muscular neck fully extended, the turtle struck in one's finger is close to the skin and the "furrow"

JULY—1953 II SNAPPERS are "ticklish" or is that the word for it?

only girdled my finger instead of cutting it loose from the joint. The wound looked similar to a rag which had been ripped: frayed, mottled and messy. I felt like a guy who had gone off without his Turns: only that "burn­ ing sensation" continued for some 12 hours. So, in what seemed an eternity, but was actually only five minutes, a "theory" that everybody already knew was proven: "Snapping turtles do have powerful jaws." But now at least it isn't necessary to repeat what the books say. From that day, last fall, I'm a regular walking voice of experience. And that ought to be worth something—shouldn't it?

Fine Trout from Allegheny River

Photos By Potter Enterprise Coudersport

Douglas Frederick, 14, of Coudersport, Potter pounds and which was also caught in the Allegheny on County, proudly displays some mighty fine trout which a size 12 Royal Coachman. Doug is the eighth grader he caught from the Allegheny River. The five, all son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack E. Frederick of Coudersport. brown trout pictured herewith, were caught on dry In the third photo, Joseph P. Heimel, also of flies. Coudersport, displays two fine brownies, one measuring The four in the photo on the left were caught in the 19 inches, the other 18 inches long. The total weight Allegheny River below Coudersport on May 31, 1958. of both being seven pounds plus. Joe caught these They measured from left to right, 22", 18", and 13" each for the last two. Doug caught the whoppers on trout on June 2 on a March Brown dry fly. a size 12 Adams. The largest weighed 4Vi pounds; In an editorial comment the Potter Enterprise said, * the total catch tipped the scales at 8V2 pounds. In the "Leave us hear no more about not having any trout pHbto to the right is a 19-incher which weighed 3Vz in Potter County. You just have to know how to do it!"

12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Susquehanna River Lakes By ROBERT G. MILLER

i Pleasure boating in this country, as indicated by The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ranks 11th in nation-wide surveys, the inclusion of boat sales at used the increase of power boating. In 1956 there were and new car lots, and a steady stream of trailered 173,824 power boats in operation as compared to boats on our main highways, is rapidly becoming the 190,113 in 1957, an increase of 16,289 boats. top summer sport, ranking perhaps second only to New York State ranks first with an increase of fishing. 58,993 power boats, 2nd, Michigan, 38,672; 3rd, This increasing popularity is due mainly to three or Ohio, 34,690; 4th, Illinois, 34,363; 5th, Minnesota, four factors including new developments in the boat 32,095; 6th, Texas, 26,851; 7th, California, 24,672; building industry, the use of aluminum and synthetic 8th, Washington, 23,784; 9th, Massachusetts, 22,825; glass fiber materials which provide assembly line con­ 10th, New Jersey, 20,986. struction and less labor costs, easier credit buying and man's inherent urge, begun when he was a small boy on a home-made raft, for exploring America's waterways. A recent national survey indicates that pleasure boating in the United States last year continued its spectacular increase in popularity with a 10 per cent boost, as compared to 1956, or twice the rate of in­ crease for automobiles. As a result there is a total of nearly six million power craft plying the waterways in addition to over °ne million sail boats, rowboats, dinghies and canoes. Added together this makes a grand total of about seven niillion boats in operation last year. WHERE CAN more contentment be found than fishing from the bridge at Safe Harbor dam, or from a boat anchored below the bridge when the power plant is not operating. Consequently, because of the rapid rise in power boating, the Sunday cruise may some day be as ordinary as the Sunday afternoon drive. As an example, Illinois already has one small craft for every ten auto­ mobiles on the road. Of the 190,113 power boats in Pennsylvania, which represent 3.22 per cent of the total number of craft in the 48 states, the majority are outboard boats numbered at 171,000. Other craft include gasoline and diesel operated boats, sail boats, rowboats, dinghies, canoes, etc. A certain percentage of these boats can be found each summer on the lower Susquehanna River, with an increase year after year, which provides adequate facilities for boating, water skiing, fishing, bathing, camping, picnicking, etc. This portion of the Susquehanna, which is now under Coast Guard jurisdiction, is made up of three large man-made lakes totaling 32 miles in length, and averaging between one to two and one half miles in width, with plenty of room for boating. * POPULAR place at Long Level is this combination access Heading south, just below Columbia and Wrights- Point and picnic grounds. ville, is Lake Clarke. Formed by the Safe Harbor dam,

JULY—1958 13 this large body of water extends about ten miles in length with a total area of 11.5 square miles. It can be reached by hard-surfaced roads from York and Lancaster, each a distance of about 15 miles away. Long Level, a sprawling summer cottage area on the York County shore, is the home port on Lake Clarke out of which operate at least 500 inboard and out­ board cruisers, sail boats, utilities, etc. The majority of the boats are permanently based here, including winter storage, with large numbers being trailered in on Sunday afternoons. This recreation area has two organized boat clubs, the Lake Clarke Boat Club and the Susquehanna Yacht Club, which each year sponsor regulation meets, a colorful water show and other activities which help promote the popularity of the area. Cottages line the shore from one end of Long Level to the other so that today there is almost no room available for more construction along the river shore, while short stretches of reforested land pro­ vide excellent picnic areas. Incidentally, according to a survey made some years ago, the lake area is filled with walleyes, small mouth bass, crappie bass, sunfish, catfish and carp but has been reported as being underfished. Some large walleyes, measuring close to the 30-inch length, have been taken from the stream in recent years on live bait, particularly among the rock ridges above Columbia and in the deep water around Long Level. Just below Columbia is a string of islands where many families live during the summer months. Com­ muting back and forth by boat, some families live in well constructed cottages while others prefer tent areas which can be removed in the fall of the year. about 13 miles. The next stop southward is Lake Aldred, located It is here that the Pequea Boat Club maintains its between the Holtwood and Safe Harbor dams, where headquarters, with a large dock and a new electric excellent boating and fishing is provided on a body of hoist large enough to handle any size craft to be found water estimated at eight miles in length. The river in these waters. The club also maintains a picnic area hills, along both sides of the stream, provide the on nearby Wise Island, one of several islands in the scenery needed as the finishing touch. area, for the use of its members. Pequea, a small community on the Lancaster County Over 500 boats operate in this stretch of water shore, is the permanent port for small craft. The from both sides of the river, not only fishing craft but distance between this community and Lancaster is high powered outboards and inboards for water skiing, bathing or just plain summer afternoon cruising. Like the Lake Clarke region, which is well known for the Indian relics found at Long Level and Wash­ ington Boro, Lake Aldred has its own historical and Indian lore importance. On the York County shore is the Indian Steps museum, operated by the Conserva­ tion Society of York County, which is filled with relics unearthed in the immediate vicinity. Here too is an American holly tree which is believed to be the largest for this latitude. A short distance upstream is York Furnace where much of the iron used for cannon during the Civil War was turned out in the 1830s.

14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER boatman. Other access points include Peach Bottom, Haines Station, Muddy Run and Boechel's Landing. This lake area measures about 14 miles long and up to two and one half miles wide at the widest point. Like the other lakes on the lower Susquehanna, it is extremely popular for its fishing, boating, swimming and camping facilities. In fact it has been proposed as a state park area but an investigation along these lines is still pending. A short distance below Fishing Creek is Mt. Johnson Island, the only bald eagle sanctuary in the U.S.; while from Cutler's Point, located high above Fishing Creek on a rim overlooking the Susquehanna, hikers and picnickers are provided an unexcelled view of the stream. As the crow flies, Fishing Creek is about 16 or 18 miles from Lancaster. Twenty to thirty years ago most craft found on the Susquehanna River were either canoes and rowboats, TENTING AREAS such as this are found on the or inboards, but with the advent of the outboard to string of islands which range from the Lancaster to which is being added more and more horsepower each the York County shore of the Susquehanna, just year, boating is now big business and the pressure below Columbia. is on. The lakes of the lower Susquehanna, which together These are just two of the interesting spots in the provide approximately 56.5 square miles of waterway, Lake Aldred area which can be reached by pleasure are well known for their boating, bathing and fishing boats during a single summer Sunday afternoon. facilities but the drawback today is access areas. Last we have the lake area formed by the Cono- These must be provided in order to make best use of Wingo Dam, below Holtwood, with Fishing Creek as recreational facilities which are on a par with any one of the main ports of operation for the pleasure others offered elsewhere in the Commonwealth.

Conservation Will Become A Reality

When %..

. . . People who do have good hunting and fishing is not the volume of game and fish they want, but the Opportunities begin to take interest in the problems quantity of the habitat will support; of those who don't; . . . We understand that the magnate whose fac­ . . . Publishers and advertisers reverse the present tory wastes poison a river, or the landowner who Policy of playing up ways to take more wildlife, and destroys his soil, may have taken more from the playing down ways to save more; world than he was worth to it; . . . Plundering the resources becomes a crime at . . . We realize that what the exploiter takes with least equivalent to the crime of plundering people who him out of this world is not the wealth he accumulated, Plunder the resources; but the lives and welfare of present and future gen­ . . . Conservationists spend as much time talking conservation to everyone as they do to each other; erations; . . . Government policy becomes directed to the . . . We learn that democracy and freedom cannot basic interests of the people instead of to the economic exist without it. "lterests of the policy-makers; W. O. NAGEL ... . Sportsmen realize that the goal of management Missouri Conservationist

JULY—1958 15 Fishing With The Bubble

Few anglers spin with the bubble, but those who do . . . know how versatile it makes the spinning tackle and how deadly it is on the trout.

By RAY OVINGTON

This last opening day on our Eastern trout waters, I made a survey that was quite revealing. Out of over > Q—r i* two hundred anglers using spinning tackle only two were using the bubble, that bit of transparent plastic used in so many ways to make the spinning combina­ tion even more deadly than usual. It is probably a good thing for the trout population that the bubble and its use is not more widely accepted! Most spinfishermen are in love with the combination mainly because they can cast small lures further and with more accuracy and they settle for that, throwing How to rig and use the bubble the lures all over the stream, and catching fish with them. But the strange part of it is that this is not the For dry fly fishing and near surface wet fly and nymph only way to catch fish, nor is it the most exciting. fishing attach the bubble to the end of your regular The use of the bubble makes the spinning rod perform spinning line. Now add a length of lighter line to the all the tricks of the fly rod including dry fly, wet fly bubble, about three or four feet long. Attach a single and nymph fishing, not to mention the most perfect dropper about in the middle for one fly and add the way of bait fishing as yet invented by man. second fly to the end of the line. This will allow "two No longer need you be worried from line drag, fly" drift fishing and with normal ease of casting the for the light, less water resistant, transparent line slides combination will not tangle on the cast or during the through the water easily. There is no need to slap the float. The use of two flies will help determine quicker old fly line out on the water to continually "mend" the proper pattern they are "taking." Quite often I it and there is no disturbing swoosh as it is retrieved use a dry fly on the dropper and a wet or hatching from the surface for the recast. The bubble itself makes nymph pattern on the end, particularly during a hatch. little or no disturbance on alighting on the surface. When you cast the rig, use the side winder cast rather The combination is castable even in a strong wind and than the conventional overhead cast. Do not snap the therefore there is virtually no spot on the stream cast, but gently swing it out over the water in one which cannot be reached and fished. Never is there the continuous motion. If greater distance is required or need for back cast room, and seldom if ever is there you have to fight a breeze, fill the ball with enough need to disturb the stream by wading. water to weight it sufficiently, but not enough to sink The big job to be mastered in wet fly, nymph and it out of sight. This "balance" will take care of most dry fly fishing has always been the dead drift. This is any situation. mastered in one stroke simply by the proper rigging of The fly fisherman's conventional upstream cast is not the flies in relation to the bubble. It stabilizes in the at all necessary in bubble dry fly spinning, for any current where it lands and follows down current almost direction is practicable as drag will not be noticed. as the water directs it, being helped as needed by line The easiest way to cover the greatest portion of avail­ pressure from the angler. The natural water current as able water is to cast slightly upstream, placing the it flows down past the rocks and along the "roads" bubble in the current lane. Raise the rod tip high and of the stream, is the same lane that food naturally by reeling in line or letting it out, the bubble can be follows. The trout are there waiting to pick it up. easily kept on course. Let it drift as far down stream

16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER as is practical before letting it swing to the side of the the fly rod, you will find that they are just right with water to be retrieved out of the way of the fish. the spinning combination. One of the most deadly nymph actions, most diffi­ The second way of rigging the bubble for fly fishing cult to perform with the fly rod but easy with the is to attach it at the very end and "dropper" your flies spinning rod and bubble is the "rising" nymph. After back from it. While this combination is more difficult selecting the area where you want the action to "come to cast, it is liable to tangle less frequently. Again, the off" attach two weighted nymphs in the above relation droppers are of less diameter than the main line for described. Cast the rig above the spot which will either wets, nymphs or dries and the bubble is weighted allow the flies to sink deep. When the bubble reaches with water to adjust to your distance required in the the "hot spot" merely tighten up on the line which cast. will cause the bubble to stop and the flies to circle This is really fly fishing with all the necessary helps up toward the surface in exactly the manner of the that are needed. There is no so called drag unless you rising nymph. In order to make the nymphs go deeper, institute it purposely. You can cast anywhere without a longer line is necessary from the bubble and would wading and can control the direction of the drift mak­ be then, more difficult to cast. In this case, simply ing the flies act just the way you want them. Watch the attach the bubble so that it will slip on the line to a ball carefully for without the worry of slack line to spot well above where you have tied in a short piece contend with, your attention is focused where it should of string or elastic band, anything that will keep the be. Many strikes of the "just touching" variety will bubble from rising beyond that point. If you are immediately be seen and felt and consequently, many working particularly fast water and it is desired that more fish will be hooked. the flies sink faster, either use weighted nymphs or If you are one to use live bait or natural insects attach small split shot to the leader . . . near BOTH for bait, the possibilities of the bubble are equally flies so that the cast does not hairpin back on itself endless as you can readily see. The great "art" of fly during the cast. The use of the two weights will tend fishing now falls within the realm of any angler and it to keep the line from doubling and tangling. While is a Godsend to those who have neither the talent or weighted flies are difficult to make act naturally with the patience to do it the hard way with the fly rod.

Remember and Survive!

The annual carnage on our waterways is about to go into its lethal high gear. A certain number of live anglers will, during the ideal boating weather, be­ come dead anglers. They will manage this transition with the horrible help of those persistent murderers, the careless boatmen. All anglers know these boatmen well. Some anglers must be counted in their ranks. They are the boating boobs who take the magnificent equipment, the motors and the boats now available, and turn them into deadly missiles. They do it by reckless speeding in congested areas. They do it by thoughtless maneuvering around other boats and particularly around smaller ones. They do it by steadfastly refusing to learn or to obey the rules of the road by which safety and order­ liness may be maintained afloat. They do it by over­ loading their craft and thus sacrificing their passengers to a carelessness that all too often ends fatally. We hope that these water-borne wahoos will be shocked into sanity—and into learning something about sensible boating—before setting out this season. Thank Mr. Pedley for me, ma'am—and I hope you enjoy —Fisherman Magazine it as much as he seems to.

JULY—1958 17 Let's Go Fishing, GIRLS!

some questionable advice to fishing widows

By MRS. SHARON ORMAN

With the first breath of spring, the first red robin, the rods, reels, bait, tackle, plugs, lines, waders, bas­ the first Easter lily—comes the first worm. kets, seines, spinners, casters, sinkers, floaters and Yes, it's spring—but you can't put the children out minnow buckets are packed, there isn't room for the to play in the sand box because it's filled with night few necessities you wanted to take. crawlers, the deep freeze is well stocked with frozen Your presence on this trip probably will cause a field mice and waiting just around the corner is the little consternation, as he and his buddies had planned annual epidemic of the Hook & Worm disease. This to sleep in the car—but what do you care? It isn't so ailment is widespread and a cure has not yet been bad in a sleeping bag. And don't brush those bugs discovered; however, there is a way to ease the plight away! They make perfectly good bait. of living with "nature boy." Don't be a clinging vine. You get only one thing As the saying goes—if you can't lick 'em—join from being a dainty and feminine wife. You get left 'em. So, let's go fishing, girls! Don't object if hubby at home. Show him you are completely independent. plans a fishing trip. Make him really miserable and Dig your own worms, bait your own hook, clean your go along. You'll have to use the money you saved for own fish and row your own oar. a new living room suite, but don't worry. I shall not go into the grim and sordid details of this Now remember, men like to travel light and they sort of vacation; however, if you get home—don't consider cold cream, sun glasses and clothes luxuries give up. Keep right on trying to be a companionable that''just mess up the packing. Besides, by the time wife. If other women can do it—so can you.

18 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Match him dollar for dollar on all equipment (if valuable.) you don't mind eating beans). If you have guests in and they manage to get through Buy only the latest and most expensive tackle. the maze of golden grubs (shhh—they're reproducing), Keep your plugs in his sock drawer. fish scalers, and hip boots in the front hall without Wake him at 3:00 a. m. and insist he call his friends suing you, wait until everyone is comfy with a drink, in to see the big one you caught on your midnight a snack and a deck of pinochle cards. Then leap up run of the trot line (come, come, dear; everyone runs and yell, "Hey girls—let's go frogging." his trot line at midnight). This is the opportunity to I'm sure your husband will accept this in good tell your friends about the really big one that got away. grace. He and the other boys will love baby-sitting Better yet, tell them about the big one Hubby lost. until 4:00 a. m. and then you can all eat frog legs. This always goes over big. After all, if you saved all that grocery money getting When the old rowboat springs a leak, don't have it good food, the least the men can do is cook it. If the repaired. In the long run it will be a good investment kiddies wake at 6:00 the next morning, hubby will be if you buy a new aluminum boat and motor (this will glad to give them breakfast; and if he isn't—get up relieve tension from rowing). This purchase will create yourself. such financial distress that you must refinance the car, But the next time he wants to go fishing—let him hock the furniture and turn the children over to go! You take a nap and relax for a change. Grandma (but don't sell the guns and dogs—they are Courtesy "Outdoor Indiana"

A Traveling Rainbow On April 26, 1958, C. C. Raymond of Newport Erie. The fish was one of 1300 jaw tagged yearling Michigan caught a rainbow trout in Brest Creek near rainbows planted in the above stream (Crooked Creek) Monroe, Michigan. The fish carried a mandible tag No. to determine whether such plantings would add mate­ E158 PENNA. rially to the spawning run rainbows occurring each Spring in several Pennsylvania tributaries to Lake Erie. Fish Commission records disclose that the trout a This trout traveled approximately 165 miles from yearling was tagged and released twenty-two miles where it was released, was 17 inches long and weighed West of Erie in Crooked Creek, a tributary to Lake 2 lbs.

Religion and Fishing Shortly after the Resurrection the Apostle Peter something about fishing. Nevertheless he habitually announced: "I am going fishing." That sounded like went to worship with others at the synagogue on the a good suggestion to the other friends of Jesus who Sabbath. were present. "We will go with you," they said. So Nor does fishing change character, as some pisca­ °ut to the clear, lovely lake of Galilee. torial romanticists would have us believe. Fishing is Why Peter wanted to go fishing he did not say. indulged in by criminals as well as clergymen. One Perhaps he wanted some good Galilean fish to satisfy can be as inconsiderate, selfish and blasphemous on his hunger. Maybe he simply yearned for the familiar stream or lake as anywhere else. boat and the sound of the clear, clean water. Or did But one with eyes to see and spirit to respond can Peter just like the adventure of fishing? find new vision, calmness and zest for life on stream More probably Peter wanted to do some thinking or lake. There is, as many have observed, more to about the events of the preceding days. There was fishing than catching fish. But one has to take more Qeed to see things in perspective and search out their with him in order to bring more back. Knowing this, implications. What did it all mean? What better place many who feel the aieed for reflection will follow to see it "steadily and see it whole" than out fishing? Peter's example and go fishing. Fishing is not a substitute for worship. Jesus loved —The Scranton Times fhe outdoors and there is evidence to suggest he knew (Clipped by Harland F. Reynolds, Fish Warden)

JULY—1958 19 Suicide Pond

By N. R. CASILLO

Every resident of the hamlet of North Columbia "No, not so heavy as orl that," drawled Levi nasally, knows the story of Abby Meserve's suicide. How, on "it's ther' consarn twistin' and plungin' tanktics. But, a dark August night, she stealthily crept from her hold on hyar," he suddenly cried and then paused as home like some hunted animal and gave herself up to though recalling something. "Why, sure," he continued, the brooding waters of Gordon's Pond. All of the older "oncet I had me line busted, and a blasted heavy line, inhabitants can testify to the dismal, haunting song too," he amended. which the demented girl sang as she slowly waded "Did you ever get a look at one of them?" I asked. through the shallows of the "shelf" bordering the pond, "Yes and no," hesitated the cautious oldster. "I and how with a final choking scream stepped off and caint swear to it becuz me old eyes may've been slowly sank into its fathomless depths before any of a-foolin' me. Oncet I hauled in 'bout thuty feet of line the horrified villagers who had been aroused, could reach her. The body was never recovered. In fact, no attempt was made as the older men, even today, main­ tain that the pond is bottomless. Some years ago Levi Fairbrother fishing what is thought to be its shallowest part, failed to get bottom with seventy feet of line. No one, in recent years has ventured out into the deepest part some four-score feet above the stout dam that was erected by Ezra Gordon back in 1842. Pitbottom Creek across which the dam is thrown runs through a narrow ravine, and was reputed to be of no inconsiderable depth even before the dam was built. The structure raised the water level more than a score feet, yet, so steep are the walls of the defile that the slight increase in width is scarcely perceptible. Since that tragedy of long ago the sinister bit of water has borne the altogether appro­ priate name of Suicide Pond. George Short and I sat near the stove in Lem and down below I thought I saw somethun' black and Stewart's store listening to the yarns of a small group polished-like, and 'bout as long as me arm, a-plungin' of serious visaged villagers. Naturally the conversation like tarnashun. To this day I be glad the critter got inevitably drifted to the story of the pond. And why away." shouldn't it? It had been top news in the community "Perhaps, they're trout," I suggested. for decades. "Trouts me eye," was Levi's eloquent comment. "Any fish in it?" I asked casually, not wishing to "I've ketched me thousan's o' them mountin' trouts create any unusual stir by appearing to be too in­ all 'bout these parts and none o' them over ten inches terested in a thing that seemed so sinister to them. long," he sniffed. "Guess, mebbe Levi could tell yuh more 'bout it "I reckon they be them ther' forun fish that Ezra's than any one else," the store keeper volunteered. "He son brought down from Canady," opined Hen Stebbins, fished it a while back." a bird-like old chap close to eighty. "Le's see," he Levi was at the edge of the group, comfortably paused, "he called them maskynuge or somethun' like." seated on an empty pickle keg. Reference to him as an "Muskellunge," I corrected, my mounting hopes authority caused him to shift his spare frame although dashed to the ground. I had envisioned giant trout the glint that suddenly appeared in his pale eyes in­ awaiting our lures deep down in the winy depths of dicated that he was ready to oblige. the pond. Think of it, a pond that had scarcely been "I've never ketched any fish from it," he replied fished for decades just because of a foolish superstition. mildly, plucking his long mustache thoughtfully. "But, "Yeh, I reckon that be it," the old fellow chirped. by Harry, I've had somethun' on me hooks more than "Anyhow, they was most like a snake as to give me oncet, but never been able to hyst it out." the creeps." 'Too heavy?" asked George incredulously. George and I had often fished the lower stretches of

20 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER the many streams that had their inception in the hills tensify the indescribable effect that caused a shiver to about the secluded village. Hurricane, Roaring, White, pass through me. The scene for all its cold beauty was and the Branch are only a few of the dozen or more dismally forbidding. The road we trod hung pre­ fine trout streams that ramify the region. This year, cariously over the very edge of the pond, while above however, we elected to make our headquarters at the it perched the comfortable homes of the villagers. A home of Mother Merrill, an old friend of George's stone's throw from the dilapidated covered bridge that parents, right up where the streams were born and crossed Pitbottom just below the dam, stood Gordon's where the trout were said to be wholly unsophisticated. mill, a weathered structure unused for many years but During the afternoon of our first day there we be­ as sound as a young oak. came acquainted with every one of the menfolk in all At the mill we lingered a while to gaze back on the of the six or seven families comprising the village. We irresistible beauty of that wild scene. The smothered found them hospitable and ready with all of the fishing roar of the water flowing over the dam might have been information we sought. Trout, they declared, literally the muffled rumblings of some subterranean monster packed all of the streams in the vicinity. Indeed, Levi imprisoned in the very bowels of the earth for all of confided that he had once made a haul of over a hun­ its audibility, as lesser sounds were easily discernible. dred fish in half an hour's time; a tale which we We conversed in ordinary tones and heard each other doubted until he explained that he had netted them. perfectly. Suddenly, the inscrutable opaqueness of the To him or to any of the other men, netting was not water was shattered and we turned as one at the sound considered a breach in the legal or sportsman's code of a soft splash following the disturbance. Silvery of ethics. It was simply one method of catching fish. ripples emanating from under the covert of an over­ hanging hemlock bough, bobbed leisurely to the other side of the pond. "What was that?" I asked in a tense whisper as I felt a sheepish tingle sweep over me as I realized that I had been under the spell of our eerie surroundings. "May be a frog," suggested George. "Not a frog," corrected Levi. "Couldn't be this time o' year, an' besides, the pond's never tolerated the critters." Rather singular, I thought, a pond without frogs, then quickly revised my opinions upon recalling the 'lunge. "I can't for the life of me connect this pond with iunge," observed George, expressing the very thoughts that were coursing through my mind. "Neither can I," I agreed. "Levi, is there a boat on the pond?" For fully ten seconds Levi did not answer. He looked at me quizzically, his mustache twitching like the tail of an excited squirrel, as he tried to devine my So when all of the yarns we had heard during the after- purpose. loon were climaxed that evening by the story of Suicide "Boat—yeh, boat," he finally stammered. "Yeh, Pond, we were keyed to fever-pitch. The disappoint­ ther' be a boat up yonder end. You wasn't thinkin' o' ment caused by Hen Stebbins' explanation was only usin' it tonight?" he asked anxiously. temporary, for on the morrow, when the season "Not tonight, but tomorrow afternoon, and we'd opened, a dozen trout-filled streams awaited our lures, like to have you come along." and that was enough to dispel any disappointment, Levi shoved his hands into the pockets of his denim even though I had envisioned the capture of some jumper, peered momentarily at a target and then spat •nossback monsters. with unerring marksmanship. At eight o'clock, accompanied by Levi, we left the "Tomorrow afternoon," he pondered. "I reckon I store for Mother Merrill's and early bed. It was a can make it," he added as he started down the road beautiful evening in spite of the raw air. A young to his home. tQoon quivered above the quiet pond nestling in the "It'll be after our morning fishing—about three "very center of the notch, its shimmering light vam- o'clock or a little later," I flung after his retreating pirishly engulfed by the inky water. A heavy growth form as George nodded in agreement. °f somber trees clothed both sides of the notch to in- The fishing next day exceeded our fondest expecta-

JULY—1958 21 tions, for in less than two hours we both had our "And, he'd dun near done it if it weren't for that limits; the small size of the fish being more than com­ ther' light riggin' o' yorn," Levi observed as he took pensated by their numbers. And their eagerness to take a deep breath. whatever we offered reminded me of the tame trout George shook his head. "The way I was set, a good that I had once seen in the outlet of the famous Blue two pound fish could have snapped the line. And it Hole near Sandusky, Ohio; huge fish that literally did," he added ruefully. shoved each other about for the bits of cheese that "Then, you don't think it was a 'lunge?" I asked were tossed to them. eagerly. "You undoubtedly know that members of Upon our return to the village we found that Levi the pike family have been known to live for decades," had an ancient, moss encrusted flat boat ready for I added to impress my point. passenger service. A handful of idlers basking on the "No, I'd almost swear that this was a comparatively sunny side of the mill were our only spectators as we small fish, a small fish with plenty of snap." made preparations for our experiment. For equipment "Yeh, plenty o' snap, plenty o' snap, heh, heh," we had bait rods, lines calculated to hold lunkers, Levi cackled nervously, attempting to pass off the in­ half-ounce swiveled sinkers and the largest hooks in cident as a joke. our tackle boxes, number 2/0. Our bait consisted of I shook with excitement as I released the drag and husky three-inch minnows. Rules: catch as catch can. permitted my bait to descend deeper. George had re­ Rather squeamishly Levi shoved off, the push being paired his outfit and was all set again. But, nothing enough to carry us nearly to the middle of the pond. happened. Slowly our excitement gave way to patience The startling transparency of the wine-colored water as we waited on and on. When it was all but dark and was revealed when we lowered the baits. My minnow our stomachs grumbled for food, and Levi at first was still visible at an approximate depth of thirty feet, hinted and then pointedly stated that he had a chore yet the surface effect of the pond was one of black to do before dark, we reeled in our lines and made opaqueness. After some forty feet of line had run for shore. from the reel I applied the drag and waited. George At the store that evening a hot debate revolved did likewise. about the identity of the mysterious "critters" in the After an inactive fifteen minutes had somewhat pond. One chap declared them to be gigantic eels. blunted our anticipation, we turned to look at Levi in "Thum's whut et up Abby's body," he doggedly main­ askance. But he simply shook his head and stoutly tained. And by the time we were ready to go back to maintained his point. "Yes siree, they be in hyar. I Mother Merrill's the serious old fellow had about half know, I've had 'em on." of the group convinced. It seems that when he was a At the end of an hour it was the same story, so I youngster some imaginative lout had told him about reminded Levi that his last episode with the mysterious the giant eels that lived in a neighboring lake, and how fish had taken place some years before. they could rear half of their slimy lengths from the "Then they should be jest so much bigger," the old water to pluck a luckless victim from out of a boat. It chap quickly retorted. was a story that caused the listeners to look at each Finally, George suggested that we move nearer the other in askance, yet, most of them were willing to dam as it couldn't possibly be any worse there. accept it as the truth. They were only too eager to be­ "If it's dept' you be lookin' for," interrupted Levi, lieve anything fantastically weird, for their lives were looking fearfully toward the dam, "jest let out some literally steeped in the superstitious beliefs of the back more line." country. "Well, here goes," remarked George, releasing the On the following evening we could not locate Levi. drag on his reel. I was about to do likewise when my Upon enquiry Mrs. Fairbrother informed us that early pardner's reel let out a screech like an infuriated torn in the afternoon he had gone up to the hillside pasture cat. George braced himself and retaliated with a yell to look after some ailing heifers, and suspected that that awakened hitherto unknown echoes. I saw his he wouldn't be back 'till dark. Losing no time we got rod suddenly lurch downward—and that was all. out our tackle and repaired to the pond to do battle Silently, he reeled in the short length of line hanging with the "eels" that had doubtlessly inspired Levi to disconsolately from his rod. Levi actually looked take to the hills. relieved. Dusk was rapidly settling as we propelled the boat "Jumping jacksnipe!" George blurted. "Did you out into the pond with a pair of improvised paddles. see that?" The surface was as undisturbed as that of a mill pond's "Did I see that?" I echoed. "What the deuce was is reputed to be, even though a sad breeze sighed it?" through the naked trees. However, scenery on that "Felt like chain lightning," he grinned sheepishly. memorable evening was of secondary importance. We "Tflat baby was for yanking me out of the boat." had definitely made up our minds to discover the

22 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER identity of the dwellers of those black depths. In a few moments we had close to sixty feet of line dangling below us. How much deeper we could have lowered our baits was a matter of conjecture. But, even sixty feet was an appalling depth for such a tiny bit of water. Action was immediate and it is attributable to sheer good fortune that some part of my equipment didn't snap. I was fast to something that was a cross between a steel spring and a streak of light. My rod tip swished downward like the stroke of a rapier and so quickly did it recover and spring back that it twanged like a sprung bow. I was too busy to give my pardner so much as a glance. However, his tense "I'll get him this time," indicated that he too was fast to something. My fish was now boring downward and a keen sense of elation went through me as I realized that I could manage it. Then, the rod suddenly straightened as the line went slack. It meant one of two things: either the fish had torn loose or was rushing upward to the surface. Devining the latter, I reeled madly to "George!" I yelled as my quarry thrashed the water recover half of the line before once again feeling that alongside, "the net—give me a hand with the net!" reassuring pressure of a hooked fish. It paused a "Coming," he enthusiastically cried as he plunged moment before continuing its upward and outward the net into the black water to bring it up under that flight, the latter inspired when it sighted the boat. welter of white foam. Even in the failing light I could see the immense "How are those for "eels?" gloated George as we trailing wake as it struggled mightily. admiringly gazed upon two of the most symmetrically The outward pull suddenly ceased as the fish came robust, the most richly colored square rigged speci­ toward me. Again I heated the reel bearings to quickly mens of Salvelinus fontinalis that we had ever been recover line. At this crucial point the boat listed privileged to look upon. violently and George gave such a cry that I thought Did our catch convince the North Columbians that he had fallen overboard. A quick glance assured me neither giant eels nor muskellunge inhabited the pond? that he was still in the boat, but on his knees leaning Positively not. To them, Suicide Pond will always be over something and babbling. "What a fish! What a pointed out as the abode of aquatic monsters as well fish!" However, my curiosity had to go unappeased as as the place where the hapless Abby Meserve went my fish had shifted into violent surface acrobatics. screaming to a watery grave.

These Would I Keep These would I keep: My faith in men, Though one may stumble now and then— A faith which helps me still to see What God intends man to be. A cheery heart, in spite of fate; The strength to work, the patience to wait; A hand that lifts a brother up And shares with him the bitter cup. A spirit calm, despite the storm, Which sees through clouds, the stalwart form Of Him who stilled the maddened wave— Is ever near to help and save. The optimism childhood had; The simple trust that made me glad; The beauty of life in its crimson dawn—• These would I keep as I journey on. —And 1 Still Think It's a Crazy Hat! —LIDA MARIE ERWIN

JULY—1958 23 FILLET THAT BASS

By NED SMITH

Tired of picking scales out of your hair and fish bones out of your teeth? Then why not try filleting your bass? It is probably the least messy method of readying fish for the pan, producing two nice, bone­ less slabs of meat per fish that take up little space in freezer or pan. Here's how it's done:

4. Now continue to remove the fillet, slicing close to the bulge of the backbone and down along the small bones to the belly. Cut through the belly skin from vent to tail, but leave the fillet attached at the tail. 1. The fillets consist of the shaded areas shown above—one lying on each side of the bony structure of the fish. The rear half of the fillets extends the full depth of the body; the front half is limited in depth by the lateral bones.

5. Grasp the tail of the fish firmly in one hand, allowing the fillet to protrude between the fingers. Lay the fillet, skin downward, on a table or board, cut through the flesh—but not the skin—of the fillet where it is attached. Holding the knife firmly in place on the skin pull back with the other hand, drawing the skin under the blade and stripping off the meat. Use a big 2. Rinsing your fish in a solution of vinegar and knife for this job. If you have trouble starting it impart water will remove the slimy coating and make him a sawing and shoving motion to the knife until the easier to handle. With a sharp knife make the first cut flesh begins stripping off. Should you accidentally tear (B) alongside the dorsal fin, as close to the bones as off the skin, just grasp the end with a pair of pliers and possible. Cut down to the backbone and continue to proceed as above. Repeat the entire process on the the tail. Make cut (C) behind the head. other side of the fish and you have two boneless slabs of fish like those shown below. The head, bones, fins, tail, skin and entrails are all discarded in one piece.

3. With your thumbnail push the flesh from the lateral bones, then cut through the skin below the lateral line to free the fore part of the fillet. Just beyond the last lateral bone turn the knife and cut down to a point immediately behind the vent.

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24 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Notes From The Streams » .

Fine Activities in Schuylkill "Fishing Permitted" Signs Pay Off! Port Clinton Fish and Game Association held its 5th Fish­ Recently while I was visit­ ing Rodeo in Rattling Run Creek at Port Clinton. They bought ing landowners along the 400 large trout and children under 16 years were the anglers. Meshoppen Creek to learn if Each child received two tickets for hot dogs and soda and it would be agreeable to use Prizes were awarded. our "Fishing Permitted" post­ South End Field and Stream of Frackville held its rodeo ers again this year. I stopped for children on June 8 in the Whippowill Dam which was to see Mr. Douglas Brooks, built by the club. They too buy all the fish and the eats and who owns several miles of the sodas are free to the children. stream. I asked him if the fish­ Middleport North American and Moss Glen Clubs also ermen gave him any trouble held rodeos on June 8 in the Beaver Run Creek for children last year, and if we could use with equal awards and free food. our posters again. Mr. Brooks replied, "You don't need them. —Anthony J. Lech, Warden I took my trespass signs down. If the Fish Commission is Schuylkill County good enough to put fish in the stream, I'll let people fish for them and I'm also going to have my land open to hunting." —Stephen A. Shabbick, Warden Yes! They Do Scatter Wyoming County While fishing Cooks Creek in Bucks County on April 22, Henry Muth, aged 12 years, caught a brook trout 7% inches Embarrassing Error—Indeed! long bearing a gill tag. From information contained on the tag, Sherman R. Barnett of Lansdale was contacted. Barnett There are times when a license issuing agent is probably replied saying that the trout was tagged and released in the rushed and is not too careful when making out a fishing Week about one-half mile downstream from where it was license, but I have never seen this situation before. A hus­ caught and that it was stocked just a week previous. band and wife had entered a local hardware store to purchase —Miles D. Witt, Warden a license and when I checked them while fishing on Elk Bucks and Northampton Counties Creek, I noticed that the complete description of the wife was carried on both licenses. The husband was very much disturbed to know that his occupation was listed as housewife. Thrill of a Lifetime! —Harold L. Solomon, Warden While fishing for crappies in Pymatuning Lake May 2, 1958, Erie County Willis Guthrie of Leechburg, suddenly felt a heaving pull and his rod bent into a hoop. Almost as suddenly, a muskrat surfaced with the hook imbedded in its side. While pulling, Good News From Forest & Clarion Counties the line tore loose and the rat swam away. Some nice catches of trout are being caught from Spring —Raymond L. Hoover, Warden Trainee Creek, East Hickory Creek and Tionesta Creek. From all Crawford County indications the turkey hatch will be good this spring. I have noticed quite a number of hen turkeys with their young while on routine patrol. Everybody Loses When A Hot Head Abuses —Norman L. Blum, Warden Forest & Clarion Counties While patroling the Shohola Creek, I stopped at the home °f Harvey McKean, where I Could Be A Battle Royal learned of the extreme mis­ behavior of a fisherman. Over John Graham of St. Thomas, while fishing in the Cono- tne complaint of Mrs. Mc­ cocheague Creek, Franklin County, caught a 31-inch, 21 lb. Kean, who was planting the carp on a spinning rod and reel with six lb. test line. Mr. garden, this fisherman deliber­ Graham was twenty-five minutes in landing this fish. ately walked back and forth —Bryce Carnell, Warden over the freshly spaded area. Franklin & Fulton Counties He then went to the bank of the stream and regardless of the signs asking for caution be­ cause it was freshly seeded, he tramped up and down the The "Run" That Stood Still area and when Mrs. McKean appealed to him not to do so, he became very abusive. Later in the week I again talked The long anticipated smelt run from Lake Erie did not with Mr. McKean, who told me that someone had cut the materialize this year, and all indications are that the smelt hark from the willow trees that are planted along the stream. spawned in the lake rather than running up the streams. At The McKean property is open to public fishing, but just this writing, June 1st, there are literally thousands of dead 0r>e more incident like this and this area will lose a large and dying smelt lining the beaches along the Pennsylvania Wretch of a fine stream. shore and floating in the lake. —Joseph E. Bartley, Warden —S. Carlyle Sheldon, Warden Supervisor Pike County Northwest Region ..** i-

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